‘I feel respected. I feel loved. I feel valued.’

Esmat Dorbeiginameghi didn’t let being a newcomer deter her from continuing her 20-year career in teaching when she moved to Manitoba from Iran.

A friend went so far as to discourage her from pursuing teaching because of requirements for a new Manitoban.

“But teaching is my passion. I cannot think of anything else—just teaching—so I started to follow my dream,” Dorbeiginameghi said.

Her journey began in an ESL classroom where she completed government programs required for newcomers to attend university.

“They all said that it’s the best place that you can study,” she said, adding two years at University of Manitoba proved them right.

Dorbeiginameghi says she chose the Faculty of Education at University of Manitoba after talking to other Iranian students and friends studying education and other subjects as well.

“They all said that it’s the best place that you can study,” she said, adding two years at University of Manitoba proved them right.

“I feel respected. I feel loved. I feel valued and I enjoy spending time with my colleagues and classmates,” Dorbeiginameghi said. “They are all nice to me … I am an immigrant but for them, it is nothing.  They treat me like others and that’s extremely valuable to me.”

Practicum experiences invaluable

And despite her years of experience as a senior years chemistry and general science teacher in Iran, Dorbeiginameghi found she had much to learn about Canadian culture, the Canadian public-school system, and issues in education that were different from her home country.

She also found her practicum experiences invaluable. There, she learned about the broad opportunities, materials and resources available to Canadian students. Moreover, she found the emphasis science classes place on team work bears profound influence on helping students to improve their knowledge of concepts, and their communication skills.

“When they work as a team, they learn how to express themselves—even in a small group three or four of students,” Dorbeiginameghi said. “They learn how to respect other students, and they learn how to help each other to accomplish the goals of the activity.”

“All of these opportunities at the Faculty of Education were great for me, and helped me to be more confident and ready to start my new career in the near future.”

The science teacher said she is also interested in pursuing graduate studies available at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba. But first, she is keen to return to a full-time teaching job.

“Being with students is different. It’s my life—what I really, really love. I would really love to go back to that part of my life,” Dorbeiginameghi said.  “All of these opportunities at the Faculty of Education were great for me, and helped me to be more confident and ready to start my new career in the near future.”

To find out more about how to apply for a teaching degree at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, click here. 

Esmat teaches equations during her practicum at a Manitoba school

Charlie McDougall